St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-15
The Democrats Capture the Appoint
ments of the Beard Of Park
Commissioners.
Some Changes Which the Old Members
Do Net Appear to Relish Very
Well.
Mayor Am5s Leads the Attack and is
Backed Up By a Clear Ma
jority.
Some Spicy Dialogue and Speeches on
Economy---Parisanship Crops
Out.


board of park commissioners al their
caucus Thursday afternoon decided to
carry the war into Africa and insist
upon controlling the appointments of
the board. The programme as outlined
was carried out yesterday, and there
was strenuous objections on the part of
the old campaignerS, who constituted
the minority, as might be expected.
There were protests against partisan
ship, pleas in behalf of economy, and
Walllngs over the proposed changes, but
the caucus rule prevailed, except that
Commissioner Wilson sided with the
Republicans and Commissioner Glenn
entSon twice asked to be eX-
cused from voting. Nothing reckless
III the way of increasing expenses was
done, as the salaries of the general
superintendent and two assistant super
intendentS amount to but S2,700, while
$500 was formerly paid to the superin-
tendent alone. As the work of the as
SiStant superintendent was before per-
formed by bosses" the work of these
two men will be secured for $780, SO
there is really a saving. The meeting
was called to order at 2:30 o'clock by
President Loring, there being present
commissioners AmeS, Gilman, Mills,
ClementSon, March, Ingenhutt, Board
man, BaSsett and Sutherland The
Sprinkling of Hennepin avenue boule-
ward created some discussion, the queS-
ton arising as to whether the board
was bound by promises to property
owners, given to secure the donation of
a strip of twenty-five feet, to do the
Sprinkling. The matter was finally laid
over one week. \ number of applica-
tons for appointments were received
and placed on file.
TIE BALL OPENS.
y communication was received from
the police commission in reply to Presi-
dent LOring'S request for police pro-
lection. saying that the required detail
of foot and mounted police would be
made. President Loring explained that
he had made the request with the under
standing that the board desired it. He
meant no diScourtesy to the mayor.
AID. Mills moved that the c0mmunica-
ton be placed upon file, and Commits
Sioner BaSSet that the offer of the police
commission be accepted. Mayor AmeS
called upon the attorney to give his
opinion, and Attorney ByrneS responded
that he had conferred with the city at
tOrney, and their construction of the law
was that it contemplateS the
park commission shall create
its own police force, which
it shall control and pay. In the event
of failure to do this the police commits
sion could. however. provide Il force.
On motion of Mayor Ames the discus
sion was postponed for the time being.
THE NEW OFFICERS.
A motion was next made by Mayor
AmcS that in addition to the general
superintendent two assistant Superin-
tendentS shall be employed during the
summer months, one to have charge of
grades and approaches and the other to
supervise the 0rnamentation and tree
planting. Commissioner Wilson moved
a reference of the resolution to the com
mittee Oh supplies and employment. He
had not seen but that the work hereto
fore had been well and economically
done.
Mayor Ames-I think its work is of sufii-
cient importance TO designate as Superintend-
ents the men who have heretofore been
known as bosses" l think comparatively
little has been done in the way of ornament
tation. There should be flowers and shrubs,
such as there are in the South Chicago park,
for instance.
President Ioring-You forget to take into
consideration that two years ago these parks
were unimproVed Swamp-lands. We have
left the ornamentation until the permanent
Improvements shall have been completed
Commissioner Wilson-The mayor reflects
somewhat upon the past work of the board.
Mayor Ames-l meant no reflection. can
not see any, objection to having, these parks
L MdilI lllc luTkS 10 DE lIe
breathing places of the poor. | meant, too,
10 see some money expended on the north,
south and east Minneapolis parks as well as
on the lake drives and Central park.
President LOring-You are certainly mis-
taken. Prospect park has been graded and
seeded, and Riverside and Elliot parks the
same.
Mayor Ames-Yes. but / object to the aban-
donment of the parks. For instance. night
before last found party of loafers drink
ing beer and carousing at Elliot park.
President Loring-I visit the parks every
day and never saw anything of the sort.
Mayor Ames-Have you got any seats in
these outside parks?
President Loring-We have bought two
hundred and fifty.
Commissioners Ingenhutt-The parks in the
First and Ninth wards have no sidewalks, no
seats, and the wire fence is down.
Prof. II. w. S. Cleveland, the land
scape gardener, here gave it as his idea
that the parks should be first gotten in
shape, and that the floral ornamental
tons could come afterwards. He had
advised this III regard to the South Chi
cagO park, and had been thanked in
after years for his foresight. He also
gave Supt. Berry a tlattering send-off.
Commissioner Wilson moved to refer
the resolution to the committee on en-
ployment and supplies, bit it was lost
on a tie vote. The vote to adopt the
resolution was carried by vote Off to ).
FOX ECONOM1 > SANE
Commissioner Mills then offered mo-
ton fixing the general superintendent
salary at 81, 800, the salary of the super
intendent of police at 81 800. the sal
aries of the superintendent of grading
and tree planting at the rate of $1,000
per year for the time actually employed.
Commissioner BOardman said that the
reduction of the supc. intendent'S
salary from $500 to $1,000 meant
that Supt. Berry would resign.
He was sorry that political in
fiuence was TO increase the expenses
about $1,000. Mayor AmeS figured out
that the actual increase only amounted
10 500. When Supt. Berry first came
he only received $500. His house
burned down, so his SalarI was increased
and 500 back pay voted him. Commits
sioners Loring, Wilson and Barrett
spoke earnestly against the motion,
Commissioner Wilson saying that it was
intended to provide lot of unnecessary
places for political rewards. This had
never before occurred, and such thing
as caucus of Democrats or Repub-
licanS had never been known before.
1t was piece of folly to bind
the board to employ police when it
could get them for nothing. A motion
to postpone was lost by a vote of to 6,
and the resolution was adopted by
vote OF TO 4-ComnlSSlOner wilson
voting in the affirmative for the avowed
purpose of moving reconsideration.
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE.
Mayor Ames moved that John Land
berg be appointed superintendent Of
park police, and that the police cCm-
mission be requested to detail force of
twelve men to be under his direction.
President Loring and Commissioner
Wilson protested as usual, but the mo-
ton prevailed by Il vote of to 5. Com
missioner Mitchell moved that Commits